overweight doctors?

[trixie123]

AIBU to think the junior dr on BBC3's fly on the wall programme would be more effective, especially on his placement as an emergency dr if he could move around at speed without huffing and puffing and dripping sweat everywhere? And no I don't know if he has a condition which causes him to be overweight but as a general point, should they perhaps be "modelling" good health a little more?

Gasman sounds like a backstabber anaethetist so probably not good at obscure rashes.

x-post!

certainly not. although it may help with the knackered back.

my old gp was quite short and fat. he told me once that i needed to lose weight (i am a tall size 16) at the time i was about a stone over, if that.

i just looked at him he knew what i was thinking.

Medicine and nursing (certainly in a hospital) really can make living a healthy lifestyle incredibly difficult.

Long hours, horrendous pressure, limited break opportunities with limited facilities to store and reheat food, a shift pattern that can preclude regular exercise, stress and situations that mean you want to cheer yourself up with chocolate or alcohol...

I agree that if a HCP is incapable of physically doing their job due to their size then they need to sort themselves out, but you can't say that all HCPs have to be slim, non-smoking, fit and vice free paragons of virtue.

Also I' a practice nurse so a large part of my role is chronic disease management and health promotion. I have been criticised for being slim ("you can't possibly know how hard it is for me to lose weight as you're not obese") yet my overweight colleague has heard "you can't advise me on healthy eating when you're so fat yourself".

You can't win.

Mmm the Dr's I know are all very fit and healthy, 3 anesthetists, 2 GP's a breast specialist (oh er missus) quite a selection and none over size 10, none smokers too.

The only professional people I expect to 'practice what they preach' are politicians :o

The rest, I bow down to their expert opnion (usually)

If a healthcare professional says (based on YOUR medical records) that you would benefit by losing weight etc, then THEIR own appearance shouldn't be a factor,

'Well so should you' shouldn't be an acceptable response

Take some responsibility for your own actions, don't worry about anyone elses

I think working in the NHS - you've probably seen people suffer from the effects of obesity/smoking.

Therefore (whatever the hell you look like) you are in a position to give advice about how to avoid some conditions/illnesses.

Personal preferences are not relevant in my view.

Physicians heal thyselves!

unfortunately due to nhs cutbacks we no longer get issued with magic wands.

PMSL @ AYC.

well i am uncomfortable watching him looking so worn out and he sounds like he is distress when he is running.

At the end he looked like he was gonna keel over.

God what absolute bollocks to blame one's 'lifestyle' on being overweight.
Yeah, like you were pinned down and force fed those cheesy chips eh?

If you don't like the choice, take a sandwich. It's what millions of people do. Quite easy to manage.

i manage to be fucking massive on sandwiches though.

"seriously? since when did being thin be a precursor to being able to do your job well?"

Seriously?! A police officer or firefighter would be hindered doing their job if they were fat. Granted, yes, I've seen plenty of fat cops and they are hindered, as told be a few of my cop friends, but not firefighters. How is an obese firefighter going to haul your unconscious ass down the ladder if their own legs barely hold them, let alone be able to use an oxygen tank with ease. Same said about an emergency room doctor.

I do agree that we all need to just stop making excuses, put down the fucking junk food, stop overeating and take a walk.

I'm an optometrist and every day I advise people that to maintain good eye health, they should cut down on saturated fats, eat oily fish three times a week, eat lots of tomatoes and tomato puree, butternut squash and carrots and plenty of dark leafy greens. And lots of berries.

And most days, I think to myself, "I really should take my own advice"

HCPs are human, and like most humans, not perfect.

Cervix, I've got a colleague like that.
Mind you, they are roughly as long as yer arm...

actually i was quite worried when he was going to that arrest.The thing is though that i know thin people who eat loads and fat people who eat very little.Metabolic rate?Whatever.I would hope that the main thing I had from my HCP is lots of knowledge,ability to get stuff done to help me out if I am ill and empathy and understanding.I am a thin HCP who drinks and smokes(a little) so am prob very bad example.

I don't wear gloves to do venepuncture.

My sister is morbidly obese and 'eats very little'... in front of others. You should see what kind of crap she has in her cupboards and I question why so many pizza boxed tucked behind her garbage can under the sink and why she spends $150 a week on groceries for a single woman.

ggirl, I do.sorry if this is an issue.Twas meant to be a lighthearted aside from the expected fat git gibes.

Got Art

I would rather trust a fat doctor who knows WTF they are doing than a skinny one who doesn't have a clue.

I don't wear gloves to do venepuncture or cannulation unless the veins are staring right in front of me and can feel them, but thats usless on the ward I work...veins have usually been overused.

Anyway back on topic....I'm overweight but can do my job perfectly well. Also don't mind telling pateints about the diet they should/shouldn't have, it's esential for us to do this. Our dietcians are good though....and slim......and eat salads for lunch.....might stuff themselves at night....still skinny though.